A WEST Reading mum whose daughter lost her battle with cancer is urging people to go the extra mile for an “inspirational” 24-hour family-friendly relay.

Aileen Davis’ 11-year-old daughter Helen died of a brain tumour in 1991, after the Southcote Primary School pupil had battled it for four years.

Since her death Mrs Davis, 68, has been an active fundraiser and supporter of Cancer Research UK and is now trying to drum up support for Reading’s second Relay for Life

in August. Mrs Davis, who has another daughter, Katherine, said: “It was a devastating shock because you have two little girls doing well at school and suddenly life goes everywhere.”

The Relay for Life brings together teams of fundraisers who will walk laps of Palmer Park throughout the night to support the charity.

It begins with a survivors lap of honour, where cancer patients will walk the first lap, then around dusk there will be a candle of hope ceremony where hundreds of candles will be arranged in the shape of the word “hope” and left to burn through the night.

There will also be a range of games, music, food and entertainment from midday on Saturday, August 30, to midday the following day, to give teams and supporters plenty to do and to raise cash for the charity.

Mrs Davis stressed it is not an endurance event but a community event, and added: “We are celebrating survival and we have a number of very inspirational events.

“It is great to see people do survive cancer although some are still suffering or going through treatment. But that is what we are fighting for – to beat the disease.

“But then we have the candle of hope ceremony – where we remember all the people who have died – and there is not a dry eye in the house when that happens.”

To get involved call the Reading Relay for Life committee chairwoman Amy Moss on 07794 165798 or email readingrelay2014@gmail.com